Creative Teaching & Learning

Issue 4.3

The PISA test results gave our political and education leaders another opportunity to criticise British schools. But, as Sue Lyle points out on page 62, the picture is much more complex than it at first might seem.

Michael Morpurgo calls for the reinstatement of story time in all schools; Two in five teachers feel they have more to give; Rising numbers of teachers are barring less intelligent pupils from taking GCSE history; and more.

Spontaneous, creative thinking comes naturally to very young children – it’s as they grow older that they become more inhibited. In the second of a two-part series, Marcelo Staricoff explains how to capture that early creativity and embed a lifelong love of thinking and learning.

To succeed in an increasingly competitive jobs market, students need to develop strong critical thinking skills and the ability to work collaboratively with others – how can they do that? Steve Padget shares a powerful, visual thinking approach and describes the benefits of using it regularly in the classroom.

Once dismissed and disparaged as ‘lesser’ literature, graphic novels and comic books are slowly gaining recognition as a valuable teaching tool. Here, Autumn Ware shares her own experiences using this vibrant, visual method of storytelling to develop her students’ scriptwriting skills.

In the first of a new series on key thinkers in education, Warren Pitts examines Jean Piaget’s main theories, the influence his work has had on today’s education system, and the criticism he has faced from other intellectuals.

Gove and Wilshaw have waxed lyrical about China’s results and badmouthed English schools once more. But the Chinese would rather have an education system that is more like ours. Sue Lyle, back from a visit to China, slays some mythical dragons.

Over 500 years ago, two young princes disappeared from the Tower of London, never to be seen again – what happened? Jane Jones reopens the case and reveals a tangled web of greed, murder and intrigue amid a brutal battle for the throne of England.

The Princes in the Tower - A historical investigation: Activity 1. In this activity, students record ideas about the text 'The Mystery of the Princes in the Tower' before reading. They then read the text, linking new knowledge with current understanding.

The Princes in the Tower - A historical investigation: Activity 4 Resource Pack. Students act as detectives to create a timeline about the events leading up to the disappearance of the princes in the tower.

The Princes in the Tower - A historical investigation: Activity 9 Resource Pack. Students use a decision line to visually represent information and judgements or alternatively, hot seat a key figure from the time period to gain a deeper understanding of motives and actions.

A detailed outline of the events leading up to the crowning of King Richard III and the disappearance of his young nephews, the Princes in the Tower. For the pdf version, please see ''Project plan: The Princes in the Tower - A historical investigation'.